Written Answers Friday 5 March 2010

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days in NHS Lothian were directly connected with alcohol-related conditions in each of the last three years for which information is available, also broken down by age of patient.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of acute occupied bed days which are directly attributable to alcohol-related conditions is not held centrally.

  Information on acute occupied bed days is recorded on the SMR01 dataset. SMR01 has space for up to six diagnosis codes to be recorded, a main diagnosis and up to five secondary diagnoses. Alcohol-related problems will be recorded as either a main or a secondary diagnosis, so it is not possible to identify the cases where alcohol was directly attributed to the length of the admission.

  Table 1: The Total Length of Stay (Bed Days) of Patients Treated in General Acute Hospitals1,2 in NHS Lothian3 for Alcohol-Related Conditions4,5,6 by Age Group: 2006-07 to 2008-09P

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09P


19 years and under
256
245
185


20 - 24 years
430
324
241


25 - 29 years
760
646
590


30 - 34 years
552
784
773


35 - 39 years
1,206
1,519
1,243


40 - 44 years
2,541
2,185
2,165


45 - 49 years
3,024
3,773
3,433


50 - 54 years
3,908
4,362
4,300


55 - 59 years
5,703
5,663
4,591


60 years and over
16,443
16,708
16,033



  PProvisional.

  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  Notes:

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals.

  2. Figures in this table relate only to those individuals who are treated as inpatients or day cases in an acute hospital. They do not include individuals managed as outpatients.

  3. Note that these figures include residents from other health boards that were treated in Lothian hospitals but do not include Lothian residents treated in other health boards.

  4. Discharges where alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded as primary or secondary reasons for admission to hospital.

  5. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10).

  - Alcohol-related: F10, K70, X45, X65, Y15, Y90, Y91, E24.4, E51.2, G31.2, G62.1, G72.1, I42.6, K29.2, K86.0, O35.4, P04.3, Q86.0, T51.0, T51.1, T51.9, Y57.3, R78.0, Z50.2, Z71.4, Z72.1. These codes were defined in a recent in-depth review of ISD’s core alcohol related code set. Further information about the review and resulting consultation process is available at:

  http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/3986.html

  6. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of alcohol-related problems may vary from hospital to hospital.

  Due to the way alcohol related conditions are recorded, it is not possible to determine whether or not the reason for admission is directly attributable to alcohol. Therefore, this figure may be an overestimate.

  Information in the table above relates to discharges from acute non-obstetric, non-psychiatric hospitals. It should be noted that patients with alcohol-related conditions may be admitted to mental illness hospitals. Statistics for these admissions are not included in the table.

Care Commission

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Care Commission Quality Assessment Framework takes account of the (a) size of a service, (b) number of service users, (c) number of care episodes delivered and (d) number of complaints made and, if not, whether this will be reviewed.

Shona Robison: The method used to regulate care services is an operational matter for the Care Commission. It is for the commission to evaluate and review its own inspection methodology. As part of the corporate arrangements for public bodies, officials regularly discuss with the commission its regulatory activities, including its approach to inspections.

  If you would like more information about how the commission regulates care services you can contact the chief executive:

  Mrs Jacquie Roberts

  Chief Executive

  Care Commission

  Compass House

  Riverside Drive

  DUNDEE

  DD1 4NY

  T: 01382 207100

  E: Jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the (a) enforcement activities and (b) regulating for improvement role of the Care Commission.

Shona Robison: In line with the Corporate Governance arrangements set out in the government’s guidance for sponsoring public bodies I meet the Care Commission’s Convener and Chief Executive regularly to discuss performance and key issues and policies. Officials also meet the commission’s executive management team quarterly.

  The Care Commission’s Corporate Plan which sets out its objectives and details its key performance indicators (KPIs) is approved by Scottish ministers. There are KPIs relating to inspection activity and enforcement. The commission submits to my officials a monitoring report setting out how it has performed against the KPIs. This report is carefully scrutinised and any concerns about performance are raised with the Care Commission’s Executive Team.

  The corporate governance arrangements also include discussions on the commission’s regulatory activities in order to ensure that Scotland’s care services continue to improve. The Commission strives to deliver improvement in a number of ways. These include more targeted inspections and a focus on people who use services and their carers, as well as increased participation from users and their carers in the regulation of care services.

  More information about enforcement activities and regulating for improvement and how they operate can be obtained from the Care Commission’s website www.carecommission.com or by contacting the chief executive:

  Mrs Jacquie Roberts

  Chief Executive 

  Care Commission

  Compass House

  Riverside Drive

  DUNDEE DD1 4NY

  T: 01382 207100

  E: Jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review Care Commission enforcement activity to ensure that capacity building of the social care provider market is not adversely affected by regulation.

Shona Robison: The Care Commission’s enforcement powers are an important part of its regulatory role to ensure that people who use care services receive good quality care. The powers of enforcement are set out in the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. It is an operational matter for the commission to determine when to use these powers.

  The commission regulates about 15,000 services. In 2008-09, it issued 134 enforcement notices against 84 services. In deciding what to do when a care service is not providing care which meets the requirements of the legislation and the National Care Standards, the commission takes account of all the relevant circumstances, and each case is considered on its own merits.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the complaints procedure used by the Care Commission.

Shona Robison: There is a statutory requirement on the Care Commission to establish a complaints procedure to deal with complaints about care service provision and complaints about how the commission undertakes its work. The procedure and any variations to it require the consent of Scottish ministers. The complaints procedure which currently applies was approved by Scottish ministers in 2004. How that procedure is applied is an operational matter for the Care Commission.

  Complaints are an important part of regulating for improvement in the quality of care services. More information about the complaints procedure and how it operates can be obtained from the Care Commission’s website www.carecommission.com or by contacting the chief executive:

  Mrs Jacquie Roberts

  Chief Executive 

  Care Commission

  Compass House

  Riverside Drive

  DUNDEE

  DD1 4NY

  T: 01382 207100

  E: Jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com.

Constitution

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have discussed their plans for Scottish independence with (a) members and (b) officials of the European Commission.

Bruce Crawford: Scottish ministers have discussions about a range of matters of importance to the people of Scotland with members and officials of the European Commission.

  Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether other EU nationals living in Scotland will be allowed to vote in its proposed referendum on Scottish independence.

Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to Chapter 2 of Scotland’s Future, Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill Consultation Paper, published on 25 February 2010. It can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Elections/rbc. Copies are also available in The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50315).

  Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30626 by Bruce Crawford on 25 January 2010, on what date the proposed Referendum Bill will be published.

Bruce Crawford: The draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill was published on 25 February 2010.

Crofting

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the need for a croft tenant to purchase and decroft their croft in order to meet costs related to residential care or to a marital division of assets when such costs are calculated by means of market influence valuations by the district or other valuer.

Roseanna Cunningham: The asset of a croft tenancy may be realised without the need first to purchase and subsequently to decroft. Croft tenancies are routinely advertised for sale in outlets throughout the crofting counties. 

  In relation to charging for residential care and assessing ability to pay, it is the responsibility of local authorities to interpret and apply the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992. If a local authority is of the view that a croft tenancy constitutes capital for the purposes of those Regulations it will also need to consider whether the circumstances require or permit the application of a capital disregard. The resolution of a dispute over the interpretation of the Regulations is a matter for the courts.

  In the case of a marital dispute the division of assets is a matter for those involved, and may require to be determined by the courts if an amicable or mediated solution can not be agreed.

Culture

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the Literature Working Group’s recommendations for the establishment of a (a) Scottish academy of literature, (b) Gaelic literary magazine, (c) government body to report on public libraries, (d) compulsory question at higher grade on Scottish literature and (e) separate publishing house for literature in Scots.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the goals of the Literature Working Group are regarding the creation of a Scottish academy of literature.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Literature Working Group plans to include playwrights in the Scottish academy of literature.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed timeframe is for the creation of a Scottish academy of literature and what further steps the Literature Working Group plans to take regarding its implementation.

Fiona Hyslop: The Literature Working Group was tasked with recommending a new approach to public sector support for literature, focussing particularly on writing and publishing. The independent group’s report was published on 12 February 2010. I have written to the Chief Executives of organisations mentioned in the report to garner their opinions on the recommendations that affect their organisations. The practicality and feasibility of all recommendations made in the report will be further investigated before I respond fully, on behalf of the Scottish Government, later this year. A copy of the Literature Working Group’s report is available at the Parliament’s reference centre (Bib. number 50373) and has also been published online at: 

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/17145942/0.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days in NHS Lothian were directly connected with drug-related conditions in each of the last three years for which information is available, also broken down by age of patient.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of acute occupied bed days which are directly attributable to drug-related conditions is not held centrally.

  Information on acute occupied bed days is recorded on the SMR01 dataset. SMR01 has space for up to six diagnosis codes to be recorded, a main diagnosis and up to five secondary diagnoses. Drug related problems will be recorded as either a main or a secondary diagnosis, so it is not possible to identify the cases where drugs were directly attributed to the length of the admission.

  Table 1: Total Length of Stay (Bed Days) of Patients Treated in General Acute hospitals1,2 in NHS Lothian3 for Drug-Related Conditions4,5,6 by Age Group: 2005-06 to 2007-08

  

Age Group
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


19 years and under
193
93
154


20 - 24 years
230
340
362


25 - 29 years
425
469
564


30 - 34 years
409
581
617


35 - 39 years
934
695
826


40 - 44 years
638
883
1,137


45 - 49 years
887
842
816


50 - 54 years
707
631
723


55 - 59 years
917
1,159
652


60 years and over
2,478
2,666
3,280



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  Notes:

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals. 

  2. Figures in this table relate only to those individuals who are treated as inpatients or day cases in an acute hospital. They do not include individuals managed as outpatients.

  3. Note that these figures include residents from other health boards that were treated in Lothian hospitals but do not include Lothian residents treated in other health boards.

  4. Discharges where alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded as primary or secondary reasons for admission to hospital.

  5. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10).

  - Drug-related: F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19. 

  6. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of drug-related problems may vary from hospital to hospital.

  Due to the way drug related conditions are recorded, it is not possible to determine whether or not the reason for admission is directly attributable to drugs. Therefore, this figure may be an overestimate.

  Information in the table above relates to discharges from acute non-obstetric, non-psychiatric hospitals. It should be noted that patients with drug-related conditions may be admitted to mental illness hospitals. Statistics for these admissions are not included in the table.

Firearms

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what epilepsy awareness training will be provided to police officers using Taser guns to ensure recognition of potentially unresponsive, uncommunicative or possibly aggressive behaviour resulting from a complex partial seizure.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive , in light of concerns expressed by Amnesty International in its report, "Less than lethal?" The use of stun weapons in US law enforcement, regarding the use of Taser guns on individuals suffering from seizures, what training Strathclyde police officers will receive during the three-day training course on Taser gun use on identifying post-seizure behaviour to ensure that these symptoms are not mistaken for non-compliant, combative or intoxicated behaviour.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive , in light of concerns expressed by Amnesty International in its report, "Less than lethal?" The use of stun weapons in US law enforcement, regarding the effects of Taser guns on individuals with medical conditions such as epilepsy, what consideration it has given to the public safety implications of extending the use of Taser guns beyond authorised firearms officers in the Strathclyde police force area.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what training Strathclyde police officers will receive during the three-day training course on Taser gun use on ensuring that all individuals subject to a Taser gun discharge receive adequate medical evaluation, especially those with epilepsy, diabetes, asthma or heart disease.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31575 on 3 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what visits the First Minister has made to (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) prisons since 1 October 2009.

John Swinney: The First Minister has visited Montrose Academy, St Brigid’s Primary School, Cults Academy, Lauriston Nursery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and also officially opened the new Victoria Hospital and the new Stobhill Hospital, both in Glasgow.

  In addition the First Minister undertook a visit to Sunnybank Nursing Home in Aberdeenshire on New Year’s Day.

Flooding

Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the flooding of the Kinness Burn in St Andrews since 2005.

Roseanna Cunningham: We have not had any discussions with SEPA that specifically concerned the flooding of the Kinness Burn.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all reports (a) of critical incidents and (b) from procurators fiscal on stillbirths are reviewed by a national oversight group as part of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme.

Shona Robison: At present, the Scottish Patient Safety Programme does not review stillbirths.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) collects information on all stillbirths in Scotland. The unit in which the stillbirth occurred is asked to send information to NHS QIS, such as discharge letters, local critical incident reviews or root cause analysis reports, and post mortem reports where these exist. 

  In partnership with Information Services Division, NHS QIS produce an annual report on stillbirths and neonatal deaths, The Scottish Perinatal and Infant Mortality and Morbidity Report. This report includes information on numbers, rates, causes and associated factors for all stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Scotland, and identifies trends and makes recommendations for practice where appropriate. The production of the report is overseen by a multidisciplinary committee which includes public partners (lay representation). The report is published annually on the NHS QIS and ISD websites. http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3112.html.

  Additionally, maternity and neonatal units within Scotland conduct regular multidisciplinary perinatal mortality meetings at which the cause of and the circumstances surrounding each stillbirth or neonatal death within that unit are examined. Good and less satisfactory practice are identified and recommendations made for future practice and/or the management of any future pregnancy to an affected mother.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what screening programmes are available for adults with a clear family history of cardiac conditions.

Nicola Sturgeon: Our Keep Well and Well North Programmes identify those at highest risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes, using the ASSIGN cardiovascular risk calculator which takes account of family history as a factor in assessing someone’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

  Our Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan contains a range of actions related to inherited cardiac conditions.

  We have also supported the Familial Arrhythmia Network Scotland (FANS), which is developing cascade screening for families who have been affected by sudden cardiac death, whether through inherited arrhythmias or as a result of conditions such as hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. FANS is developing close links with the Scottish Muscle Network, in order to better identify families at risk of sudden cardiac death as a result of inherited neuromuscular conditions.

  Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance to NHS boards on consulting communities in relation to proposed closures of branch surgeries.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are committed to ensuring that communities are fully involved in the configuration of local healthcare services and their views are taken into account when changes to services are being proposed. That is why we issued the guidance, Informing, Engaging and Consulting People in Developing Health and Community Care Services, to NHS boards on 10 February 2010 under cover of Circular CEL 4 (2010) setting out the process for involving the public in proposed service changes. Paragraph 6 of that document includes advice on the applicability of the guidance to the provision of Primary Care services through independent contractors such as GPs.

  This guidance supports previous guidance issued to boards in 2004 under Circular PCA(M)2004)22 on the provision and funding of premises costs for branch surgeries. Paragraph six states that "NHS boards and GPs in Scotland are free to review branch surgery provision and either extend or rationalise provision of branch surgeries, but only after due consultation conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of The National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004."

  Both Circulars are available on the SHOW website via the following link: 

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/publications/publication.asp?offset=10.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary care practices have some form of patient involvement via a patient participation group or similar patient advisory body.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. health boards across Scotland are, however, fully committed to involving the public in the planning and delivery of local healthcare services. One of the ways this is done is through Public Partnership Forums, which continue to be a vital and effective mechanism for communities to make their views known to the health board about local services.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a mandatory reporting and surveillance system in place for norovirus outbreaks in hospitals or whether reporting to ObSurv is voluntary.

Nicola Sturgeon: There is established weekly reporting of all hospital wards that are closed with presumed or confirmed cases of norovirus. This is the only UK system providing real-time data on norovirus outbreaks.

  There is also mandatory reporting of all hospital infection incidents which are assessed using the Hospital Infection Incident Assessment Tool (HIIAT) as amber or red.

  There are also two voluntary reporting systems in place. The first addresses outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease wherever they occur ("ObSurv") and the second addresses all outbreaks in hospitals (The Scottish Hospital Outbreak Reporting System: "SHORS"). SHORS is currently being updated.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Health Protection Scotland has an automated electronic system for capturing data on norovirus.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland plans to have a fully automated electronic laboratory reporting system for selected pathogens, including norovirus, in place by July 2010. 

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost to the NHS of outbreaks of norovirus in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: Estimates of the cost to the NHS of norovirus outbreaks is not centrally available as the total number of patients and staff affected by the virus cannot be derived from census-based national surveillance systems.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being undertaken either in Scotland or in the United Kingdom to examine the interaction between norovirus and Clostridium difficile.

Nicola Sturgeon: The HAI Task Force has commissioned the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre to study the relationship between norovirus, other gastroenteritis viruses and Clostridium difficile. This is a detailed and lengthy study which is ongoing, but it is anticipated that work will be completed by summer 2011.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors contribute to outbreaks of norovirus and whether such outbreaks reflect poor hygiene.

Nicola Sturgeon: Norovirus is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting). Outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis are more likely in semi-closed environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships.

  Poor hygiene is probably the main factor that starts outbreaks especially if catering and waiting staff are suffering from gastrointestinal infection. Norovirus is highly infectious and, for example, individuals tend to vomit in a very profuse and projectile manner. This can produce an aerosol of viruses that infect people who have had no other contact with the individual and despite their keeping good hygiene.

  Outbreaks may also be due to contamination of food. Recent outbreaks across the UK have been due to oysters that have probably been contaminated by human faecal contamination of oyster beds.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the voluntary reporting of norovirus by individual laboratories will be made mandatory.

Nicola Sturgeon: Norovirus is an organism which is required to be notified by laboratories to the local NHS board and to Health Protection Scotland under the Public Health etc (Scotland) Act 2008 with effect from 1 January 2010.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is an intention to update the Health Protection Scotland website regarding norovirus outbreaks.

Nicola Sturgeon: Since 21 January 2010, Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have been publishing weekly unvalidated data on norovirus outbreaks on its website. The web link is: 

  http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/ic/noroviruspointprev.aspx.

  The HPS guidance on control measures was updated in December 2009 and is under close review. The web link is http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/ic/publicationsdetail.aspx?id=43440.

Heritage

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish guidance for applicants for new World Heritage sites.

Fiona Hyslop: We are currently working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the other devolved administrations to ascertain how a new tentative list of potential World Heritage Sites should be established. Details will be released in due course by DCMS, and guidance on the revised application process will be available from Historic Scotland.

International Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its funding of organisations to work on HIV prevention in Malawi, what its position is on the criminalisation of HIV transmission and compulsory HIV testing for particular groups, as set out in the Malawi Government’s draft HIV/AIDS Bill.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government believes that there is no place for prejudice or discrimination, and that everyone deserves to be treated fairly, regardless of religion, race, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability.

  The Scottish Government’s Co-operation Agreement with the Government of Malawi identifies priority areas for development funding, aimed at helping some of the world’s most vulnerable people. The Scottish Government will not consider funding projects that discriminate between individuals or groups on the basis of their gender, sexuality, race, religion or disability.

  Any other internal issues are a matter for the government of Malawi.

  Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, whether the Minister for Culture and External Affairs will discuss the Malawi Government’s draft HIV/AIDS Bill with the Malawi Health Strand Lead during her forthcoming trip to Malawi.

Fiona Hyslop: During my visit to Malawi I met with the Minister for Health in Malawi. The discussions focused on the current commitments and future priorities of the health strand of the Co-operation Agreement.

  Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the organisations it funds to work on HIV prevention in Malawi the Minister for Culture and External Affairs will meet during her forthcoming trip to Malawi.

Fiona Hyslop: During my visit to Malawi I visited the Oxfam Scotland project, Managing HIV In Malawi through Enterprise and Empowerment. This project is providing sustainable income opportunities and appropriate healthcare for people affected by HIV/AIDS in the Chiradzulu district of Malawi, which has a particularly high rate of HIV/ AIDS. 

  Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Culture and External Affairs will seek views on the Malawi Government’s draft HIV/AIDS Bill during her forthcoming trip to Malawi from any organisation that it has funded to work on HIV prevention.

Fiona Hyslop: My visit to Malawi included visits to four projects currently supported by the International Development Fund. These projects were selected to reflect the work being undertaken under each of the four strands of the Scottish Government’s Co-operation Agreement with Malawi.

  This included a visit to a programme by Oxfam Scotland for people with HIV/AIDS in the Chiradzulu district of Malawi. Oxfam Scotland selected Chiradzulu as it has the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in Malawi. I therefore took the opportunity to ascertain the views of staff regarding the Government of Malawi’s draft HIV/AIDS bill.

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many injuries to dog walkers by livestock have been recorded since the implementation of the rights of access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and what measures are being undertaken to ensure that the public is educated regarding required conduct in the countryside.

Roseanna Cunningham: Information on the number of injuries to dog walkers by livestock is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Outdoor Access Code, prepared by Scottish Natural Heritage, provides detailed guidance to dog owners on responsible behaviour in proximity to livestock. The Code is available at www.outdooraccess-scotland.com Scottish Natural Heritage has also produced a leaflet and run events promoting the advice to dog owners.

  The Health and Safety Executive provides information on Cattle and Public Access in Scotland which describes the major potential hazards to farmers, livestock managers and the general public, and is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais17s.pdf.

Livestock

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the revenue raised from the sale of land previously used as ram and bull stud farms at Knocknagael and Beechwood was used exclusively in the crofting sector and to support the bull hire scheme and whether the revenue raised from any subsequent such sales will be used exclusively to support the bull hire scheme or the creation of community-managed stud farms.

Roseanna Cunningham: The receipt for the sale of Beechwood Farm to Highlands and Islands Enterprise was £3.15 million, as notified to Parliament in the answer to question S3W-17877 on 27 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: 

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  It is intended to sell off surplus land from the remaining farms. The stud facilities will be upgraded and some sale proceeds will be used to defray costs involved in setting up the new Register of Crofts proposed by the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Maternity Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what system is in place for the collection and analysis of information on (a) critical incidents and (b) near-misses resulting in (i) stillbirth and (ii) damage to the baby.

Shona Robison: The Reproductive Health Programme (RHP) of NHS Quality Improvement Service (QIS) collects information on all stillbirths in Scotland. Information on stillbirths is collected from the General Registry Office for Scotland (GROS), and additional information is collected from the hospital unit where the stillbirth, such as discharge letters, local critical incident/root cause analysis reports and post mortem reports - where these exist. This information is combined with some data from the Scottish Morbidity Record 02 (SMR 02) database, provided by Information Statistics Division (ISD) to classify the cause of death. In partnership with (ISD), NHS QIS produce an annual report on stillbirths and neonatal deaths The Scottish Perinatal and Infant Mortality and Morbidity Report: 

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3112.html.

  The SPIMMR report includes information on numbers, rates, causes and associated factors for all stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Scotland, identifies trends and makes recommendations for practice where appropriate. The production of the report is overseen by a multidisciplinary committee which includes public partners (lay representation). The report is published annually on the NHS QIS and ISD websites.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wards were closed in what hospitals in the winter of (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the numbers of wards closed to admissions or visitors in general is not available centrally.

  Health Protection Scotland monitors ward closures due to norovirus outbreaks via point prevalence management information however:

  This does not include counts of wards with visitor restrictions 

  The data is not collected at individual hospital level.

  Norovirus point prevalence reporting commenced on 7 January 2008.

  The numbers of wards closed in NHSScotland due to presumed or confirmed Norovirus outbreaks, broken down by individual health boards, for each Monday in 2008, 2009 and to week 10 (01 March) of 2010 (Monday Point Prevalence) are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50374).

  It should be noted that:

  Norovirus prevalence reporting is voluntary and not all single ward outbreaks are necessarily included in the tables.

  The prevalence data is management information and relates to the number of wards closed at any time on a Monday.

  Outbreaks resulting in ward closure starting on a Tuesday (or later) and finishing on a Sunday (or earlier) are not included in the prevalence data.

  Ward closures occurring on a Monday that are still ongoing the following Monday will be counted twice even though they relate to a single outbreak.

  It is not possible, therefore, to aggregate the provided data into an annual total of ward closures.

National Health Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent Conficker virus attacks on computers at NHS Leeds and Greater Manchester Police, what steps it is taking to ensure that all critical and non-critical NHS computers are adequately protected from the virus by the Microsoft patch.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Conficker virus was detected in a small number of Health Boards early in 2009. NHS National Services Scotland coordinated the action that needed to be taken across NHSScotland. Individual health boards were responsible for taking the appropriate actions on their systems. There has been no further occurrence of the Conficker virus since those actions were taken.

Nursing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the attrition rate has been for each of the last three cohorts of (a) adult, (b) mental health and (c) children’s nursing courses at the University of Dundee.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows the latest information about student nurse attrition rates for the University of Dundee for each of the last three complete cohorts.

  

Cohort
Adult
Mental Health
Children


2003-04
35%
31%
20%


2004-05
37%
32%
36%


2005-06
40%
39%
24%



  Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has collected from universities on the (a) number and (b) percentage of student nurses who have dropped out of pre-registration courses in the current academic session and how these figures compare with the comparable period in the previous session.

Nicola Sturgeon: Discontinuation rates for student nurses in Scotland are calculated on completed cohorts not on academic years, as the students may defer or suspend their studies before completion.

  The latest statistics we have are for cohort 2005-06 where the discontinuation rate was 33% and cohort 2004-05 where the discontinuation was 28%.

Nutrition

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of schools has extended the free fruit scheme beyond primary one and two pupils, broken down by local authority area.

Adam Ingram: This information can be found in the School Meals Survey which is published each year. The last version was published in June 2009 and can be accessed using the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/22104701/0.

  An new survey is currently underway and is expected to be published this summer.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make use of the EU school fruit scheme allocation for 2010-11.

Adam Ingram: I am pleased to advise that a bid for funding along with a Scottish national strategy was submitted to the EU for consideration in January 2010. We expect to be advised of the outcome by the end of April 2010.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31332 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 February 2010, when it expects the Scottish Prison Service to publish its evaluation of the introduction of Addiction Support Areas in HMP Edinburgh and what criteria will be used to measure the success of the pilot.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The evaluation process of the Addiction Support Area at HMP Edinburgh has been initiated however is not yet complete. There is, as yet, no planned publication date for the evaluation.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31332 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 February 2010, how the Addiction Support Areas being piloted at HMP Edinburgh differ from the drugs-free wing at HMP Kilmarnock.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are two main differences between an addiction support area and a drug free area. The first is the inclusion of prisoners on stable substitute prescription treatment. A drug free area would normally exclude a prisoner on such treatment. The second is in the methods employed by staff in focussing on treatment and recovery, working towards a more therapeutic relationship between staff and prisoners. Drug free areas have historically been focussed on drugs and their exclusion, rather than prisoners with problematic drug use and their support needs.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31332 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 February 2010, what support is available to prisoners in the Addiction Support Areas being piloted at HMP Edinburgh.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Assessments are made by the nursing addictions team and regular drug testing is part of the agreed criteria. Each prisoner is supported with an individual care plan and has community and through care links to ensure continued support after release. The regimes include regular one to one support and group work with the Enhanced Addiction Casework Service and Addiction Nurses, group work with both Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Lothian and Borders Abstinence Programme (LEAP) and various healthcare supported relaxation and self-awareness therapies. Prisoners have access peer support from C-Plus, an organisation providing knowledge and awareness on Hepatitis C, HIV and other blood borne viruses.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31332 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 February 2010, how many prisoners are involved in the Addiction Support Areas being piloted at HMP Edinburgh.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are 38 spaces in the HMP Edinburgh Addiction Support Area. Between January and September 2009, 80 prisoners had been admitted to the Addiction Support Area and 37 prisoners had been liberated. Of these liberations 16 were on a reducing prescription of methadone, 18 completely drug free and three who had reduced methadone and had switched to Suboxone (an opiate substitute which also blocks opiates). 6 of the liberated prisoners had re-offended and had been returned to custody, however they had continued to be either drug free or on the same prescription as when they had left the prison and did not present with drug related problems on re-admission to custody.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31332 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 February 2010, whether all prisoners at HMP Edinburgh were offered the opportunity to be housed in the Addiction Support Areas.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are 38 spaces in the HMP Edinburgh Addiction Support Area. Each prisoner must be serving a minimum of 45 days. The criteria for access to this type of environment is primarily motivation to change, as well as a willingness to take part in voluntary random drug testing. Prisoners who are receiving a substitute prescription should not be excluded from an Addiction Support Area, provided they are stable and consistently free from illicit substances. Prisoners who have finished a detoxification prescription and are drug-free are also included in the criteria.

Scottish Driving Assessment Centre

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) maximum, (b) average and (c) median waiting time is for assessment of people referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Centre.

Nicola Sturgeon: The waiting times for assessment of people referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service are:

  Maximum waiting time: 62.7 weeks

  Average waiting time: 22.3 weeks

  Median waiting time: 20.9 weeks.

  These figures are based on waiting time from date of referral to first appointment offered between 1 March 2009 and 28 February 2010.

Social Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to (a) promote the use of modern communication technologies in social care provision and (b) support voluntary and private sector social care providers in the uptake and involvement in the use of modern technologies.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s Joint Improvement Team is supporting the development of Telecare services in Scotland. All 32 health and social care partnerships are pursuing and developing local telecare services. Additional funding of £4 million is being made available for the financial year 2010-11 to enable partnerships to promote and encourage a consistent and mainstreamed approach to telehealthcare technologies across Scotland.

  As part of the eCare Programme, Local Data Sharing Partnerships are upgrading their social care systems to allow them to interact on a multi-agency basis with partners across health, education, the police, and other public sector agencies. Greater emphasis is also being placed on the involvement of the third sector in the technology supporting Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) requirements, which involves private and voluntary sectors.

  These developments will facilitate closer working arrangements with local private and voluntary sector social care service providers in order to support the independence and well-being of an increasingly large number of potential service users.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific institutions have used snares in the last five years and, broken down by institution, what the purposes of the captures were, how many animals were captured and where they were captured.

Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not available. While we are aware that some published scientific research will have involved the use of snares, there is no legal requirement for scientific institutions or scientific researchers to seek approval or provide reports on their use of snares and in many instances contractual confidentiality or data protection considerations would preclude the release of some of the details of any such use.